Glockenspiel attachment



Dec. 13, 1938. P. A. LAFFEY GLOCKENSPIEL ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 27, 19582 Sheets-Sheet l Laffey Dec. 13, 1938.

P A. LAFFEY GLOCKENSPIEL ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1958171171110 3 Liz/fey Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for glockenspiels to adapt theinstrument for use in bands.

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby aglockenspiel can be supported and maintained in an upright positionwhile marching so that the musician may use both of his hands in playingthe instrument.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the sounding bars thatthey may be angularly adjusted relatively to the frame to a positionmost convenient to the musician for playing when the instrument issupported in substantially a vertical position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the more detailed description of the invention to followand from the drawings which illustrate a preferred form of theinvention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a glockenspiel provided with theattachments adapting it for use in a marching band,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the harness,

shown in Figures 1 and 2, forming the supporting means for theinstrument,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View, partly inelevation, showing one of the two lower attaching means which supportthe weight of the instrument,

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the glockenspiel with the harnessremoved,

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of one end of oneof the sounding bars shown secured in position,

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the same on the line 8-8 of Figure7, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 99 ofFigure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters, in the different views, indicate like or correspondingparts, I0

designates generally the invention in its entirety as seen in Figures 1and 2 and including the glockenspiel designated generally H and theharness 12 attached thereto and adapted. to be worn by the musician tosupport the instrument.

The glockenspiel has quite recently come into use as a piece in bands.It is conventionally played with two hammers one held in each hand. Whenused in bands it is carried by a handle secured to the frame, so thatone of the player's hands is thus occupied, resulting in the instrumentbeing played with but one hand. The present invention supports theinstrument so that it can be played with both hands as intended.

The glockenspiel H, as best seen in Figure 5, is an instrument of thepercussion type comprising the frame l3, generally referred to as a lyreframe; the sounding bar support l4; and the metal bars l5, arranged intorows on the support l4 and tuned to the chromatic scale. These parts l3,l4 and I5 are of conventional shape, 10 but the support I4 is modifiedin construction to better adapt it to the use intended by thisinvention.

Instead of being permanently and rigidly secured to frame I3, thesupport 14 is removably l5 and pivotally mounted by means of the nut andbolt l6, as seen in Figure 6 arranged centrally of frame I3 and support[4 so that by loosening fastening l6 support M can be adjusted angularlyrelatively to frame I3 as indicated by its dotted 20 line position inFigure l.

The frame 13 has the sockets I 7 formed in its lower part, in spacedrelationship, and extending downwardly. These sockets I! are adapted toreceive the pegs l8 which are re- 25 movably held therein by theclamping screws [9, as best seen in Figure 4. Frame I3 is also providedwith the eyelets or apertured ears 20 formed in the sides of frame I3and adjacent its top, which extend outwardly therefrom. 30

The harness 12, by which the glockenspiel II is supported, comprises abelt 2| having conventional fastening means 22 to attach it about thewaist of the wearer, and the shoulder straps 23 secured at their ends tobelt 2| and adapted 35 to engage the shoulders of the wearer.

Belt 2| has a pair of hangers 24, preferably formed of a rigid materialdepending from the front part of the belt 2! and bent to extendoutwardlytherefrom. Secured to the free end and 40 to the outer side ofhangers 24 are the sockets 25. Secured to the intermediate portion ofeach of the shoulder straps 23 are the straps 26, which are mounted toextend forwardly, and which are provided at their free ends with hooks21. 45

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when harness I2 is worn bythe musician as heretofore described, the pegs 18 may be positioned insockets 25 and the hooks 21 connected to eyelets 20 to support andmaintain the glockenspiel ll 50 in substantially a vertical position infront of the musician so that both of his hands will be free to play theinstrument. If desired, the support M can be adjusted to a position atan angle to frame I3, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 1, 55

to permit the instrument to be played more conveniently.

Referring now to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 the sounding bar support I4comprises the end members 28, the corresponding side members 29 and thecorresponding parallel center members 30, members 29 and 30 beingconnected at their ends to members 28. The members 29 and 30 correspondin construction, being channel shaped in cross section and having theoutwardly extending flanges 31.

Disposed in the channel portion of members 29 and 39 are the strips ofpadding 32 which extend above these members and on which are mounted thesounding bars [5 which are held in position, spaced from members 29 and30, by the nuts and bolts 33 which extend through openings 34 in bars [5and through padding 32 and members 29 and 30, as best seen in Figure 9.Bars i5 are likewise held spaced from the fastenings 33 by padding 35and 36. Each of the sounding bars I 5 is connected to one of theicentermembers 30 and to one of the side members 29, as heretofore described,and they are arranged in two rows with each bar l5 spaced from each ofthe other bars IS. The padding 32, 35 and 36 is provided so that thevibration of one or more of the bars will not be transmitted to any ofthe other bars through members 29 and 30. This construction isespecially important with the glockenspiel I I, as disclosed, since thesupport I4 is not rigidly secured to the frame l3.

Various modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement ofthe parts forming this invention are contemplated and the right isreserved to make such changes as do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a glockenspiel providedwith depending spaced sockets in the lower part thereof, pegs removablymounted in said sockets and depending therefrom; a harness comprising abelt adapted to be secured around the waist of the wearer, socketsdepending from the belt to receive said pegs to support the glockenspielin substantially an upright position, and shoulder straps secured tosaid belt and adapted to engage the shoulders of the wearer to assist insupporting the weight of the glockenspiel.

2. A device of the class described comprising a harness adapted toengage the waist and shoulders of the wearer, sockets depending fromsaid harness, straps secured to said harness and having hooks at theirfree ends; and a glockenspiel having pegs depending from the lower partof its frame to engage said sockets to provide a support therefor, andeyelets formed in the sides of said frame to be engaged by said hookedends of said straps to retain the glockenspiel in an upright position.

3. A glockenspiel comprising a frame having supporting means extendingtherefrom, a sounding bar support pivotally mounted on said frame, and aharness adapted to be Worn by the player and having means engageable bysaid frame supporting means to support the instrument in an uprightposition in front of the player, said sounding bar support beingpivotally mounted for angularly adjusting it relatively to the frame forthe convenience of the player when marching.

4. A glockenspiel comprising a frame, supporting means extendingoutwardly therefrom, a sounding bar support pivotally mounted on saidframe for angular adjustment relatively thereto; and a harness adaptedto be worn by the player and including a belt and shoulder straps, and

means secured to said harness and engageable with said supporting meansto maintain the instrumentin an upright position in front of the playerto be played with both hands when marching.

5. .A musical instrument of the class described comprising a lyre frame,a sounding bar support pivotally secured thereto for angular adjustmentthereon, said bar formed of a plurality of channel shaped membersadapted to contain sound dampening material, and supporting meansprojecting from said frame; a harness adapted to be worn by the player,and means connected to said harness to be attached to said supportingmeans to maintain the instrument in an upright position in front of theplayer.

6. A harness for glockenspiel instruments comprising a belt adapted tobe worn around the waist, shoulder straps connected to said belt,sockets depending from said belt and adapted to receive pegs dependingfrom a glockenspiel to support it, and straps secured to said shoulderstraps and provided with hooks at their free ends adapted to beconnected to eyelets on the instrument to maintain it in an uprightposition to be played with both hands.

'7. An attachment for glockenspiels comprising sockets depending fromthe frame of the instrument, pegs removably secured in said sockets anddepending therefrom, eyelets formed in the upper part of said frame; aharness comprising a belt and shoulder straps, sockets depending fromsaid

